Swim Clinic and South Beach

I took a week off from swimming and man did it show as I jumped into a quick lap at the lake before the start of an early morning swim clinic. I was the lifeguard so I pretty much served as a floating buoy for 2 hours. The chill went right to my bones and even a hot shower didn't quite bring me back to normal...

I only ran once at my Mother in law's house. I could have done more, but everything seemed like a production and not worth the effort. I need to ride my bike tomorrow; perhaps I can get my DH to come with me since my kids will be a Grandma's tonight..... We'll see how his birthday celebration progresses tonight. I know I am having some wine. My training program seems to have taken a nose dive as of late... Apathy since my Olympic Distance race...

I think I am going to try the Southbeach Diet. I rarely follow a plan and rely more on journalling and calorie counting. I am told it will make a difference in the rate of weight loss. I haven't been on the scale, but I know that I have gained at least a few pounds over the last month. I need to stop it NOW, I don't want to start over. I don't know why summer is such a hard time on the food front. You would think with all that is fresh it would be easy... Maybe the mojitos have something to do with it?

A butt kicking

For the last 4 years, my friend Sara has been biking, while I focused on triathlon and running distance. We went riding this morning after a long hiatus and she KICKED my BUTT! Man, I feel like it is day one all over again. I am sore and exhausted!!! I was out of breath the whole time as she whistled up the hills; la - dee - da! She was always stopping to wait for me I felt bad, like I wrecked her workout. It was more than humbling, and I felt FAT.

However, in the end, it was nice to gain a little perspective... like I can do a whole lot better and work a whole lot harder. There are reasons why in-shape people have trainers -- because they push them out of their comfort zones, they make them go a little harder... I honestly asked myself this morning (huffing and puffing) if I was having fun or not... The answer was that I was not having any fun at all..... THIS SUCKS! is more the truth. I want to embrace the hill, I want to love the hill, I just was not feeling it this morning. I know there will be more workouts like this, but I know they are not all like this. I hope my next one will be uplifting...The kind where you feel strong and happy in the end.

Off to my in-laws...

UGH ---- Rain !

I took to working out at the gym today. I could not bear to run in the rain (and thunder!) Will it ever be summer here? I am beginning to doubt it.

I have been having a hip/knee issue since last Saturday. It feels fine, then I'll step and then WOW shooting pain down my leg from hip to knee. My sister thinks I over did it on the bike and suggested some stretches... I did some stretches and thought I'd try a little elliptical and a little running for about 4 miles. I then did about 15 minutes in the pool to cool down. There was little effort, I guess I just wasn't feeling it today. At least my hip/knee doesn't feel any worse post workout.

I will spin tomorrow whether I want to or not... I am going to my in-laws Saturday morning and between the visiting and the 9+ hours to get there, I will be glad that I was able to get some workouts in this week. I'm bringing my sneakers (and my dog) so I can excuse myself from time to time to catch a break... We'll be home Wednesday if I get my way. Next week I'm guarding at a Friday swim clinic, working out with my siblings and getting a few hours at the library. Busy is good, but can be overwhelming at times. I know I won't truly be able to relax until July 18th, the first day of our REAL vacation ---- Beach and hopefully SUN!!! please......

Swimming Lessons...

I teach swimming lessons. I don't know if I like teaching these days. I have 5 more days committed and then I think I am done. I am grumpy. I don't like uncooperative, rude kids with their parents standing at arms length saying nothing... "NO, Jack is NOT cute".

Today will be the worst - I teach while my kids are at camp and then I have 45 minutes to give them lunch before I have to go right back out to the library. The girls will have a sitter for 4 hours... It's a good sitter, but I have never left her with both girls in the middle of the day... Hopefully all will go well. I like the library. I want to be able to pick up as many hours as possible.

Workouts have been non existent since Saturday. I am having pain in my knee and hip from the bike. I think I was spinning a little too hard... I was going to go to the gym this morning, but DH had to get to work early, so Wed, Thur and Friday are all mine --- 2 days at the gym and one day on the bike. We're going to PA this weekend and into next, so I need to ride before I go... As for the diet. It sucks and I have not been on the scale. I don't know why Summer is so tough. I suppose it's the kids and the lack of consistent schedule, but honestly I don't want to have to start all over come September. I think I may want to try something a little drastic - like South Beach phase I. I am going to see what I need, stock up, clean out (which won't be hard since I haven't shopped in 2 weeks!) and see what I can do.

How am I still so slow...

I did 15 miles this morning and ran 2. My average speed -14.5 mph.... UGH... How can I work so hard, feel so fast, and only average 14.5 mph?! My bike computer has to be malfunctioning... right? 4 weeks until Danskin.... My goal is to finish in the 1:30s, like 139:59 would be A-OK with me... Quick transitions and a fire under my butt are what will do it for me... I still have work to do.

Summer Vacation - Day 1

For the last month I have had to drag my children out of bed at 7:30 a.m. kicking and screaming that they are too tired... This morning my youngest was up at 6:15 a.m. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Luckily the older one is still sleeping - though I think she's just awake and staying in bed because she can, and she wants to make a point.

I have no plan for today. My house is a wreck. My lawn is a jungle - the weeds have most definately taken over the garden... I would LOVE to spend the whole day getting it back to normal, but I fear my children will require entertaining. I love them, but I don't ever remember my mother having to create our fun. We were told to go outside and play and called only to have lunch and dinner or to come in when it got too dark. Not so these days.

I may take them to the lake where I can at least get a swim in. I have been spinning this week, but nothing else. I will bike and run tomorrow, but I feel like a big slacker this week. Hopefully I be able to get my stuff together and work hard over the next 3 weeks. Danskin approaches and I would really like a PR. Better transitions and a faster run will do it. I know it is possible...

Just when you thought...

Since 2003 I have lost about 30 pounds. SLOW is an understatement, but this year 180+/- pounds has felt pretty good. I am stronger, my clothes fit better (I am even able to wear some 12's for the first time in a LONG time). I was more confident about racing this year, hoping to be faster (and still hoping to be faster). And then... I borrowed my sister's Wii Fit to see if I would like it/use it. I did not know it was a scale. Worst of all, my "Mii" is fat.

When you weigh 213 pounds, 180 pounds seems almost normal weight. I mean everyone carries an extra few pounds, so when your goal weight is in the 150 range what's 25 more pounds? Now I know. I guess the good thing is that I am "overweight" and no longer "obese". As for the Wii, my kids like the games, and maybe the yoga/balance games/strength are good for a rainy day, but I would never use it for aerobics.

I like being alone with my thoughts (or a good podcast) for a run and spin class is pretty much a staple in my exercise schedule. If it ever stops raining, I'll be out on my bike (my bike that needs a name --- everyone's bike has a name, but mine), and my sisters are much better at kicking my butt than an Avatar.